He was at Leicester City when they pulled off the underdog story of the century — but it’s taken dropping into non-league football for Matty Miles to rediscover his love for football.

Miles may not have made the first team at the King Power Stadium, but he spent 12 years with the Foxes and was in their U23s when Jamie Vardy and co shocked the football world by winning the Premier League in 2016.

Having been released a year later, it’s been a long way back from rubbing shoulders with the likes of Vardy and Riyad Mahrez to playing for Eynesbury Rovers in the United Counties League, where he spent last season.

But his performances for Eynesbury earned Miles a summer move to Southern Premier side St Neots Town, and he’s more than happy earning his crust as a down-to-earth semi-pro.

“To be honest, I was quite depressed when I was released by Leicester and I wasn’t enjoying football,” he said. “But dropping down got me back on track and enjoying my football again.

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“Playing at Eynesbury for a year helped me a lot and got me my opportunity here. The UCL was a very physical league, but it helped me improve my game as I was used to just academy football.

“Jamie Vardy came from non-league and worked his way right up to the top, so it’s inspiring to look up to guys like them. They were a good set of lads at Leicester, and when I was let go they said to keep going and I’d find my way back up.

“I was there from the ages of eight to 20 and done a two-year pro, and to be there when they won the title was something else, the whole club was in disbelief.

“It was a real underdog story and nobody expected it. I would like to have gone to Jamie Vardy’s party but that was just for the first-teamers. The whole atmosphere around the club was crazy though.

Matty Miles during a Premier League 2 match between Leicester City and Spurs

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“We used to train with the first team a lot — every Friday we did shapes and set pieces with them — and it was a good experience being around those types of players. They were all big role models and I looked up to all of them.

“Some of my good friends are playing in the Premier League now, like Ben Chilwell, who is one of my best friends. He’s doing really well and I’m glad he took his opportunity.”

From being one of the youngest players in the St Neots squad, Miles suddenly became the oldest when budget cuts announced the week before led to a raft of senior players departing last week.

The Saints, who were already battling relegation from the Southern Premier Central, moved manager Matt Clements upstairs as director of football and appointed Marc Abbott as his replacement.

Abbott’s first game in charge ended in a 5-0 defeat at Tamworth on Saturday, which leaves Saints in the relegation zone, but only one point adrift of safety.

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Recent off-the-pitch events will make survival even more of a battle against the odds, but Miles is hoping the same sort of spirit which landed Leicester the title will help see the Saints out of trouble.

“They were such a tight group at Leicester who fought together for every ball, and we’re a tightknit group here too,” added Miles, who has now been made club captain.

“It’s a fairly young squad, I’m the oldest and I’m only 22, but the young lads have got their chance now. There’s still a good spirit as we’ve got a real strong group.

“I didn’t see it coming and it was a real shock for everyone, but we’ve got to move on from what happened, take every week as it comes and just try our best. It’s nice to know Matty [Clements] will still be at the club as he brought me in and is such a good guy and a top manager.”